Meet Our New and Talented Staff Members Ilana Lotan, creative arts therapist, recently joined the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department as a creative arts therapy coordinator. Ilana holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts and a Master in Creative Arts Therapy from Pratt Institute. Her experience includes working with children in foster care, art-based groups for seniors, and adults struggling with anxiety, PTSD, depression, self-esteem, grief and loss, addiction, self-harm, family/relationship conflict, and major life transitions. Ilana offers a non-judgmental and supportive approach to therapy, hoping to offer skills that will help individuals grow, gain confidence and learn helpful coping practices.
Jessica Portalatin, Administrative Coordinator/Patient and Family Support Specialist, has a Bachelor in Business Administration and is pursuing her MBA with a focus of Healthcare Management from Monroe College. She joined the Mount Sinai Hospital in 2019 and has worked as a support associate then later a business associate. Jessica has a special interest in childhood development and early education. She is excited about joining the child life team.
Yevonne Kiim is a recent Temple University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in media production and a minor in content creation. Entering the work force as KidZone TV's Patient Media Producer, Yevonne is excited about the opportunity to explore the intersection between media and medicine at Kravis Children's Hospital. Yevonne has experience in videography and photography, in addition to experience on production sets. For all things music, movies, and video games, you can find her in the studio.
Jessica Stewart is a longtime early childhood professional with a background in theatre and patient advocacy. Jessica began her career in her hometown of Portland, OR, working with toddlers in a Montessori and Resources for Infant Educators based preschool. Since 2015, she has volunteered as a counselor at the Youth Rally, a summer camp for teens with digestive health conditions, where she leads several activities including the talent show and dress shop. After many years of professional development in disability studies and early childhood, Jessica is thrilled to combine her passions for play and patient/family support in the child life assistant role. She is incredibly thankful to work and learn from the Kravis child life team. You can find her leading Zone group and providing bedside activities.
Ali Spikestein Steps into a New Role Ali Spikestein was promoted to a Program Manager position in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department in the fall of 2023. Ali will oversee department initiatives and support clinical staff with a supervisory and clinical focus in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Ali joined the department in early 2016, serving as the primary child life specialist in the outpatient pediatric oncology/hematology clinic. In 2017, Ali led the launch of the Paws & Play facility dog program, becoming the primary handler for Mount Sinai’s first facility dog, Professor Bunsen Honeydew. After serving in this role for several years, Ali advanced to a Senior Child Life Specialist position supervising certified child life specialists, taking a larger role in the expansion and management of the facility dogs and their clinical teams, and serving as a department leader throughout Kravis Children’s Hospital. Ali has a special interest in reflective practice, evidence-based research, creative coverage models and supporting new clinicians. Before joining the team at Mount Sinai, Ali received her Master in Child Life from Bank Street College of Education. We are preparing for the holidays! For the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more) we transform our theater space into a holiday gift shop where caregivers “shop” for gifts for their children here with us and their siblings. Christmas morning brings extra fun as our volunteer Santas visit families at their bedside. These celebrations would not be possible without your generous support. Please scan the QR code, visit our wish list at https:// amzn.to/3jHGTs9, and choose any items you want to supply for our holiday events. Thank you for your help in giving our families a celebration of fun and joy while they are facing their medical challenges in the hospital!
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